West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-02-10

the fearful sight, to shudder, 70 rcmcm.
Der her mothers words 81 must sec the
last Of them.' Poor mother, she had i'm
/ deed seen the last OF her daughter aud
/ pretty Molly. And Oh why had she
| falntcd1 But for that sho might have
/ persuaded the conductor 90 stop right
there and let her get of Now. she
could not return 20 her father till he
knew all, and had 20 bear tho shock
/ alone. She had three hours 20 wait here.
alone, impat ent, distracted and she
could not reach her father before q, his
dinner hour
Then she thought Of him, Of the sud
den horror that had smitten him, and.
woman like, her thought went on into
the future. Would nc care to stav in
L-l would he not come 10 herr But
her house was small. her children grow
ing; how could she make him com.
fortable1 She would telegraph to John
her trunks coming before her would
! startle him. Then she reelected that he
would not know the trunks had come
unless she were there too. But he knew
she was TO leave .- TO day. Sle raised
herself feebly from the rocking chair.
ana asked the woman in charge where
she should find the telegraph Office.
well, / can tell you, but it won't be
OF no use. The was n tornado SVEN
over the county yesterday afternoon
least over the south part of it-and the
wires betwixt here and Sent evils is all
down. Mary sank back in her chair
she could do nothing for John: he must
put mp with his anxiety. An hour went
py' local trains came and went, the usual
sort OF travellers came and went also
Molly began to cry; she was tired and
hungry. Mary crept over to the restau-
rant, Eow open TO feed the passengers
OF northern accommodation train who
dlned there. She got some bread and
milk for the child, and tried TO eat
something herself, but food choked her
she could only swallow another Gun of
tea shs took Molly on her lap aud the
child fell asleep then; the baby head
resting on her bosom co ufortcd that sore
heart, yet she cried ttery over il. rec
oIlccting how often she had sat in her
own mothers arms in her childhood
and resting on her shoulder found that
blessed consolation that only mothers
arm can give. oh, what should she do
without mother! If she had only died
peaceful ly in her bed with tcuder minis.
try about her loving words Of faith
tears OF parting looks of farewell: but
to be so snatchcd ont of a happy life. so
rent from all this world in one crashing
moment. Oh If ever she reached her
California home in safety. she wou d
n ver tempt railway again. What if
tn re had been an accident to the cars.
and she had seen Molly crushed TO death
and could not lift hand TO save her.
She clasped the child so closely Mt that
Z y, L. Il
sleep Mary hushed her, and tried TO
control her thoughts. She endeavorcd to
recall the consultations OF her earnest re-
llg ous faith; but the words even of
Scripture fell lifcless on her memory.
Poor human nature is 50 weak both in
mind and body. TINT blow ta"gcrs il.
and shakes even the foundations. She
was stunned, hurt, desperate: ne thcr
subm ssion nor resignation came at her
call she could only whisper a helpless,
vague appeal TO Goa, like -
"Chldren crying in the night.
ANA W th m language but u cry.
Presently Molly woke up, cross, hot.
and cute intractable enough 10 occupy
her mother for the next half-hour i'm
soothing her frctful temper, washing tho
warm face and hands. smoothing the
damp curls ard beguiling her sorrow
with a rcd apple from the lunch counter.
Then. after little while, the window
OF the ticket Office opened. Mary bought
her cket 20 J. ---. dropped dollar
into the stat 'on-maid's hand, who re-.
ceived it with an astonishcd stare. and
a grim "Thankye," and then. praspinD
little Molly's hand, went out into tic
fresh air and pace the platform till the
porter shouted
Western Erprcss' Passengers for
the Bastard. all aboard ."
once hOmeward bound, it seemed as IL
her grief and terror were renewed Molly
sleDt but in spite OF all her efforts Mary
could not help recalling the last thing her
eyes saw before she fuintel ard her soul
covered be'orc what she must meet now.
The way seemed intcrminablc: there
was delay at ono station waiting for n
freight train that had iumpcd the track
IN the morning, and was neither off nor
on as yet aud that delay involved anoth.
er further on. when an excursion rartv ~
railway directors and their friends were
due, and lad the right 4 way. 10 was
da-k when Mary reached l. L-, but She
took the first carriage that offered and
lifting in sleepy Mollr torn herself bv
conflicting emotions Of grief dread. and
anxiety, she at last arrived Mt her fathers
door
She paid the driver hurriedly. and
with Molly i'm her arms ru he'd in at the
T ont door which happened 10 be un.
locked a bright light streamcd from
In glass door Of the dining-ro9m at the
end OF the hall BrcaihIces, painting.
pale rs n sheet, and with o faco OF woe.
She flung open tho door. dropped Molly
from her grasp. and, with O Wild .hriok
lung herself iHto-hsr mother, arms
lcsi there wos Chat d plorcd mother.
stout, hearty, uninWred in life or limb
Just rising from the dessert that linacre
on the d'nucg table 10 sec who came in
at tho front door in that eager familiar
fashion; and G crc sat her placid father
with thc rcmainder o. biz pear ou his
plate his eyes as wide os eyes could 0pon.
bis mouth agopc, struck dumb by her
entrance for he had Just said
'I hope Mary has got to C-by this
time and taken her section in the
sleeper tclcRnphcd them tc reserve
Wh'lc section she viii be e9much more
comfortable with Molly along
And here she was weary ,yeopin0
pa.Iid almost hystcricu
why, Mary nut,on " exclaimed her
mother, after Mary had sobbed out her
pitcOus story.
tttNhv vrvo. ID. tI. -..,.f1 Al